The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-26
JUDGE ". A. SEAY.
HIS REVIEW OF THE ISSUES III THE
PRESENT CAMPAIGN.
Thu Kind of Governor Louisiana Needs
at Present-Address Before a Mass
Meeting of the Rapides Democracy,
Nov. Is.

Judge Seay opened his remarks by a refer
ence to his long residence in Rapides j
former years and hi. eradication at meet
ing his old friends after so long an absence
I remember particularly, said he, it
former Democratic record. After the war
number OF us joined in a movement to cas-
the vote of Rapides for Henry W. Allen, Q
iIIustrious and immortal memory, and man
ared to carry the parish for him in opposi
ton to James Madison Wells. Before | lef
the Legislature / assisted some of my friend
in transporting his mortal remains to tn
Capitol Square at Baton Rouge, in orde
that orr lawmakers might have before then
a constant reminder of a man whose life wa
without guile or blemish.
We are engaged now in a fierce politica
contest. 1t is not such a n as engaged GU
attention in former days. 1t is not such
contest as We formerly waged against a high
minded party, like the Ole Wing party, which
like the Democratic party, WAS national in it
principles and national Ia It's organization
1t is not such a contest as we Waged with tn
Republican party, a sectional orgaElzatFO =,
such as alarmed the age of Monticello in n!
declining days as 1. fire bell at night It'll
q contest before the meeting Of the Demo
cratic convention. It was announced az sool
as / retained to the shores of the Unitet
States that | would not take part in such
factionai fight. | do not esteem 1t a factona
fight, Though it is unusual, | SEQ no obleo
ton 10 such Hen appealing TO the body o
the people to decide the question, OF tn,
bearer Of the Democratic standard, who sha!
alone be placed before Democrats for thel
SURFACES. | see no objection to every OF
taking part in the struggle, satisfied, us | am
that the nominee VIII receive the fuly vote o
the party. l am, therefore, siding with ont
of the contestants. 1t was a Law OF thu
Spartan tina a man who, in times Of politics
excitenenp. remained neutra and failed Il
support that candidate whom he deemed thc
most suitable, should be branded as imam
Gus and punished as q traitor tc his country,
| am supporting
SAMUEL D. M'EEERy.
But I am not here to dcnounce Francis T.
Nichols for exercising his u~ndoubted RICH
to ask his Democratic griendB for their votes
Ii will be a bad day for public virtue when g
man of pure private life and eminent pub
lie services, in the field and in the coun
Gil, shall be vlllihed by the people whom he
has served SO well. This excitement vii
Foon be over. The party viii be the firmel
united for it's existence, and viii be stronger
than ever before.
Both these gentlemen have held the Office
of Governor. Each can, therefore, be taken
his merits. by their fruits We shall
know them.n
Ex-Goy. Nichols took the stump early in
the campaign. he has d~iscoursed atlength,
ably and el~oquently, on his eminent services
in the trying times of 1867, when the State
was wrested from the hands of the Republi.
can party, under which it had gfoaned and
been despoiled and plHndered for so many
years. | would not pluck one single we'll
earned laurel from MS brow. But II he seeks
any special merit for his services on that
occasion let him point to the man of high or
low degree who failed TO do his duty. Let
him reflect whether there are not also other
men who are entitled to receive a lleed OF
praise. FiTPTe .jpYTfS ante A~gH71elh7toa matt.
through the year 1874 the country was
with the fires OF determination On the
part of the people of Louisiana that the
kiavery and corruption should cease.
They would submit to its continuation ne
longer. The acts of 1877 were only the log
ical and legitimate elimination of work that
long been commenced. If | had to point
to a single one who deserves more credit than
enother, l should single out the gallant
he back Of Radicaiism on the memorable
of September, 1874, and who
was ready with his veterans TO dare any SER
vice on the 9th OF January, 1877. might
also point to Samuel D. MeEnery, who,
with the noble men OF the Ouachita Valley
in the performance of that service which
gives the name to
THE ~''oUAcHITA PLAlt."
Happily we do not need these ser
TeeTd BOW soTe,r as nar well az Gen. qut Nichols
NOu4u surely ISIlOItA H1iSEai. 1lG SIaEG
IS rehabilitated. Her. Radical oppress-
1rs have long since abandoned her soil.
It viii be the fault OF the Democracy If they
ever return. The time viii. | hope, never re-
turn when q gun shall have to be fred IN her
territory. We want the lest men to set to
work to repair our waste places. We want
and happiness and prosperity. We
q Gogerner.. !.
Looking over the subjects which most core
Germ our welfare to-day, the most casual OBJ
server must see that all the auestto@ which
5ear III material prosperity Samuel d.
acEnery has handled IN Il mastery manner
Lock at the finances of the State, which were
,nee in such q deplorable, condition. Many
If the best people of lie State had long
lursed the belief that the State debt, the
reminder of Radical rascality and
oppression. would pe repudiated as
,oon as the Democratic party returned to
heir hard-earned possessions. The State
validated it in d measure, and it
shrs became a just obligation of own peo-
rioE:s - sgre unlef Its heavy load
The interest on the assumed State debt could
not be met. 1t was defauited. The steps by
which the State rose from its low credit to its
present flattering position, under the admin
.strahoa OF Samuel ID. McEnery, need not
De TecapitulSted. But they are enough to
him as 8 master financierend man Of
business. Even the more thlh generous
of the State Convention Was not
sufficient to mitigate the ayarice of the insa-
bondholders. They refused TO take the
ponds with their reduced Interest. The money
last accumulated ia the Saults of the banks
md the fiscal agency, via all the dangere5of
by bank failures, as highly honorable as
onrs were admitted to be. Louisiana had no
virtually, nothing in the market. They were
got listed on the stock board. It was then
hat some OF orr leading business men petit
iIoned the Governor to advocate
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,
With a 4 per cent bond, which the bondhold-
'rs had agreed to take. That petition con-
the honored names Of Francis T,
Nichols and Frederick n. Ogden. The meas
ire could not have passed the Legislature
Without the active personal Operation of
With all. of whatever faction. He advised
With me: 1 had no p thence whatever with
he validated Radical debt. I did not believe
&c owed 1t. Coy. MeEnerT, if he had been
he personal" Governor Of whom we have
leard SO much, would not have come near
me Who had SO vigorously, and perhaps BIT
erlry supported Gen. Ogden against him. But
e, did talk: earnestly. sincerely, ably. /
'ofed against the amendment before the
oeopiee, g. did every other nan in my parish,
Except fifteen. but was willing to vote to
iloW the people, y who perhaps knew bet
er than |, to say whether they wanted an
snendment or not. The amendment passed.
lany Of the Governors wise predictions in
49, alnNC CoitG w pass. lHGfG Is now
10 default of interest, and perhaps the debt
nag soon be paid. The bonds have gone up
rom 81 in 1879 to 90 i'll 1887. Constit1-
lonsl warrants are paid in full. There is
much inquiry about Lon isiana finances. The
'tate has good credit. There il commencing
stimulus to immigration. It will grow
Teater as every year progresses.
MOI are the pOish affairs and finances In a
Hosrlshlng condition. This is because
4 carefnlness n giving the best local govern
nents that, with the lights before, MIN, he
vas able to obtain. In my own parish par
taxation has been reduced for the first
lme since the war. And SO in other parishes
whose affairs / have LOOKED into.
Ills parish governmental appointees hare
,seen criticised. This is unjust. Some even
lam him for the mode of appointment of
'olice jurors by the Governor inetead Of by
'opular election. He did not originate the
dea OF oar present mode of election. His
legislature did not originate it. 1t came
trem Gen. Nichols administration.
here has been perfect unanimity on the
ubJect with eyeryoD Democratic Governor.
very Democratic caucus and every Demo-
ratie Legislature since the return Of orr
'eople to power. 1t was intended for fhe